Fukui offers a beautiful natural environment featuring stunning cliffs, traditional temples rich in history and one of the world's greatest dinosaur museums. Experience this and much more with JAL's two-day Fukui travel plan.

DAY 1

11:30

Rikyuan Soba Restaurant(About 1 hour required)

Built 130 years ago at the end of the late Edo period, Rikyuan has been recognized by Fukui Prefecture as a Traditional House of Fukui thanks to its gable architectural style, shikuya zukuri. Once inside, visitors can enjoy soba, thin noodles made from buckwheat flour, surrounded by nature in complete tranquility.

The historic ruins of this castle town, which was under the control of the Ichijodani Asakura clan, are located in the town of Kidonouchi in Fukui. For 103 years, the Asakura clan ruled the area during the Sengoku period. The castle town was founded in 1471 and became a major cultural, military, and population center in Japan. However the town was burnt down in 1573 when Oda Nobunaga defeated the Asakura clan. In 1967, excavation began to reveal the whole layout of the town, including the house of the lord, samurai residences, temples, houses of merchants and craft workers, as well as the streets. Located at the ruins are partially restored Japanese gardens originating from the time of the Asakura clan, which offers visitors a hill-top view of Ichijodani Castle ruins, providing a scenic view of Fukui.

Open:

9:00 to 17:00. Last entry is at 16:30. Closed from December 28 - January 4

A castle town that was home to five generations of the Asakura family during Japan's Warring States period. This must-see location features a townscape with samurai residences, temples, artisan residences, and roads all excavated intact.

2 hrs 10 min.

15:40

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum(About 80 minutes required)

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum is recognized as one of the top dinosaur museums in the world, and is the largest in Japan. The museum is located in Katsuyama City, which is the center of dinosaur research in Japan. The main floors exhibit more than 40 dinosaur skeletons, such as those of Fukuiraptors and Fukuisauruses, which were excavated nearby, as well as several life-size animatronic dinosaurs, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Open:

9:00 to 17:00 (No entry after 16:30). Closed on the second and fourth
Wednesday of every month and from December 29 to January 2

Admission:

Elementary or junior high school students
Individuals: 260 yen, Groups: 210 yen
High school or college students
Individuals: 410 yen, Groups: 310 yen
Adults
Individuals: 720 yen, Groups: 620 yen

Access:

From Katsuyama Station, take the community bus for 20 minutes (100 yen for a day pass) in the direction of Nagaoyama and get off at the Kyoryu Hakubutsukan-mae bus stop in front of the museum.

One of the world's largest dinosaur museums. Its spacious interior is packed with fossils, specimens, and dioramas. Fun for the whole family!

1 hrs 30 min.

18:30

Awara Hot Spring ResortOvernight stay required

Awara Hot Spring Resort, the most famous in Fukui Prefecture, is nestled between the mountains and the sea, surrounding visitors in a stunning natural setting. Each hotel at the Awara Hot Spring Resort offers spacious rooms, fancy gardens and open-air spas, and features hot springs with unique qualities and efficacies.

Access:

16 minutes from Fukui Station by taking the JR Hokuriku, JR Thunderbird or JR Shirasagi line to Awara Onsen Station.

Each hot spring has a slightly different mineral content, providing a range of sensations. Perfect after a long day of sightseeing.

30 min.

DAY 2

08:20

Tojinbo(About 1 hour required)

Tojinbo is a rugged cliff eroded by the violent waves on the coast of the Sea of Japan, located within Echizen-Kaga Quasi-National Park. The cliff is designated a Precious National Monument and stretches for over 1km. A rock pillar made of the columnar jointing of pyroxene andesite is the only one of its kind in Japan, and one of only three known in the whole world. One especially dynamic site is the lagoon featuring a 25m-height cliff called “Tojinbo Oike”, which can be seen from a pleasure boat, as well as from Tojinbo Tower. Come winter, you can observe the natural wonder that is nami-no-hana, the flowers of waves, which occur when waves are caught in the reefs and churned into bubbles that ferocious winds then fan up in to the air.

These rugged rock cliffs that stretch for over a kilometer are a sight to behold.

40 min.

10:00

Maruoka Castle(About 1 hour required)

As the oldest remaining castle in Japan, Maruoka Castle is designated as one of Japan’s Important Cultural Properties and is also considered a valuable part of the history of architecture. It is located on a high hill above Maruoka Town. In 1948, the castle was destroyed by an earthquake, however it was reconstructed 1955, using 80% of the original building materials. Kasumiga Joh Park, with its 400 Yoshino cherry trees, surrounds the castle and has been selected as one of the top 100 most beautiful places for viewing cherry blossoms.

Check out the oldest standing castle keep in Japan! Also, the 400 Yoshino cherry trees there are stunning in spring!

1 hrs 30 min.

12:30

Sachiya Restaurant(About 1 hour required)

Sachiya restaurant, known as the home of Eiheiji Zen Tofu, is found on top of a small hill at the entrance of Eiheiji Temple. Sachiya offers healthy dishes using tofu made in the morning from freshly squeezed soy milk, sesame tofu and seasonal vegetables. A particular recommendation is the 100% homemade tofu made from soy milk freshly squeezed from sachiyutaka, local soy beans. There’s also a variety of delicious tofu made at a local factory, soy milk desserts and tofu chocolate, which received the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize. Sachiya also offers a number of popular side dishes such as Shiraae, a soy and spinach specialty, and Tsukudani, soy milk skin.

Open:

10:00 to 16:00. Last order: 14:30

Access:

About 25 minutes from Fukui station using the Keihuku Bus until Keyaki Dai Station and 5min. walk to Sachiya.

Eiheiji Temple(About 1 hour required)

Eiheiji Temple, meaning the "temple of eternal peace", is located deep in the mountains, close to Fukui City. Eiheiji Temple was founded in the 13th century by Dogen, a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher who established Soto, the largest of the three traditional sects of Japanese Zen Buddhism. Upon founding Eiheiji Temple, he devoted himself to training his followers in the perfection of Zen practice in every action of daily life. Even today, both priests and lay people devote themselves to his practice of zazen, sitting meditation. There is a disciplinary hall which gives visitors the chance to practice Zen meditation and stay to experience some of the ascetic disciplines of the monks.

Open:

8:30 to 16:00

Admission:

Adults or high school students: 500 yen
Elementary or junior high school students: 200 yen

Access:

To get to Eiheiji Temple, take the Keifuku Eiheijisen bus from JR Fukui Station and get off at Echizen.

JAL Japan Explorer Pass

JAL Japan Explorer Pass is a simple and low cost fare for travelers wishing to explore the unique culture and feel of local Japan. The fare can be used to access over 30 cities across JAL’s domestic network.